AHMEDABAD / LONDON / NEW YORK  – Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating on the Ahmedabad–London Gatwick route, crashed into a residential area shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Onboard were 242 people, including passengers from India, the UK, Portugal, and Canada. More than 290 lives were lost, including civilians on the ground. A single survivor, identified as British-Indian passenger Vishwash Kumar Ramesh (seat 11A), was rescued alive.

Catastrophic Start to Disaster

Flight Data indicates a MAYDAY call was issued approximately 50 seconds after departure at an altitude of just 625 ft. The aircraft crashed into a medical hostel and adjacent buildings, triggering a large fire that hampered rescue operations. Emergency teams have recovered 204 bodies so far and are still in search and rescue mode.

Focus of Investigation

This marks the first fatal crash and hull-loss of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its 2011 debut. Investigators from India’s DGCA and the U.S. NTSB have taken the lead, alongside Boeing technical experts. CCTV and aerial footage point to anomalies such as gear remaining deployed and flaps prematurely retracted, which experts warn would critically impair climb performance. Speculation includes possible power failure or hydraulic issues.

Expert Insight

UK aviation analyst Graham Braithwaite commented that evidence of gear and flap misconfiguration, particularly early flap retraction, would have drastically reduced lift at low altitude. Former pilot Alastair Rosenschein confirmed these anomalies based on early video footage. A correct flap‑5 takeoff procedure and timely gear retraction are essential for ascent.

Global Reactions

• India mobilized over 500 personnel—including military, NDRF, and air‑crew—to aid recovery. Prime Minister Modi is coordinating emergency response.
• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US officials, including former President Trump, expressed condolences and pledged full investigative cooperation.

Boeing Reputation at Stake

The crash has spotlighted the 787’s safety record. Though no fatal incidents occurred previously, multiple technical faults have been documented. Commentators are calling for a rigorous probe into potential recurring defects across the 787-8 fleet.

What’s Next

• Flight recorder analysis is underway; black boxes will be scrutinized to determine technical or human error.
• Aircraft performance data—fuel load, engine thrust, control inputs—will be cross-checked against flight standards.
• Supplementary exams: Weather conditions at the time were fair, removing environmental factors; focus remains on mechanical failures, crew response, and system malfunctions.   (zai)